Alias visualization
Implementations are described herein for providing a GUI that is designed to visualize how aliases are assigned and/or distributed in a process automation facility. In various implementations, alias registration data associated with distributed control nodes (DCNs) of a process automation facility may be retrieved. The alias registration data may include mappings between connection strings of input/output (I/O) channels made accessible by the DCNs and aliases registered to the I/O channels. A graphical user interface (GUI) may be rendered with graphical elements that visualize at least some of the DCNs and at least some of the mappings between the connection strings and the aliases. The mappings may be analyzed to detect irregularities among the registered aliases. One or more of the graphical elements of the GUI that correspond to the one or more detected irregularities among the registered aliases may be visually emphasized.
1 . A method implemented using one or more processors and comprising:
retrieving alias registration data associated with a plurality of distributed control nodes (DCNs) of a process automation facility, wherein the alias registration data includes mappings between connection strings of a plurality of process automation nodes made accessible by the plurality of DCNs and aliases registered to the plurality of process automation nodes, wherein the plurality of process automation nodes include input/output (I/O) channels and function blocks that execute on the plurality of DCNs;
causing a graphical user interface (GUI) to be rendered, wherein the GUI includes a plurality of graphical elements that visualize at least some of the plurality of DCNs and at least some of the mappings between the connection strings of the plurality of process automation nodes and the registered aliases;
analyzing the mappings to detect one or more irregularities in how the aliases are registered to the plurality of process automation nodes; and
causing one or more of the graphical elements of the GUI that correspond to the one or more detected irregularities among the registered aliases to be visually emphasized.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more detected irregularities include the same alias being assigned to two different I/O channels.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more detected irregularities include an orphan alias assigned to an I/O channel that is unavailable.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the alias registration data further comprises cross-platform servers that control access to the plurality of process automation nodes.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of I/O channels include at least one sensor and at least one actuator.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the mappings are retrieved from a global discovery server (GDS).
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the mappings are retrieved from at least some of the plurality of DCNs.
8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising retrieving local alias registration data from one or more of the plurality of DCNs, wherein the local alias registration data comprises local mappings between subscribed-to aliases and process automation nodes to which the subscribed-to aliases are registered.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein at least some of the graphical elements of the GUI visualize at least some of the local mappings.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the graphical elements of the GUI that correspond to the one or more detected irregularities among the registered aliases are rendered as interactive elements that, when actuated, cause candidate remedial actions to be presented for selection.
11 . A method implemented using one or more processors and comprising:
retrieving alias subscription data associated with a plurality of distributed control nodes (DCNs) of a process automation facility, wherein the alias subscription data includes a list of subscriptions by at least some of the plurality of DCNs to aliases registered to a plurality of process automation nodes made accessible by the plurality of DCNs, wherein the plurality of process automation nodes include input/output (I/O) channels and function blocks that execute on the plurality of DCNs;
causing a graphical user interface (GUI) to be rendered, wherein the GUI includes a plurality of graphical elements that visualize at least some of the plurality of DCNs and at least some of the subscriptions;
comparing the alias subscription data to alias registration data to detect one or more irregularities in how the aliases are registered to the plurality of process automation nodes, wherein the alias registration data includes mappings between connection strings of the plurality of process automation nodes and the aliases registered to the plurality of process automation nodes; and
based on the one or more detected irregularities, causing the GUI to be updated to visually emphasize one or more of the graphical elements of the GUI that correspond to one or more detected irregularities.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the one or more detected irregularities include the same alias being assigned to two different I/O channels.
13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the one or more detected irregularities include a DCN being subscribed to an orphan alias that is assigned to a process automation node that is unavailable.
14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of I/O channels include at least one sensor and at least one actuator.
15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the alias subscription data is retrieved from a global discovery server (GDS).
16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the alias subscription data is retrieved from at least some of the plurality of DCNs.
17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein one or more of the graphical elements of the GUI that correspond to the one or more detected irregularities are rendered as interactive elements that, when actuated, cause candidate remedial actions to be presented for selection.
18 . A system comprising one or more processors and memory storing instructions that, in response to execution by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
retrieve alias subscription data associated with a plurality of distributed control nodes (DCNs) of a process automation facility, wherein the alias subscription data includes a list of subscriptions by at least some of the plurality of DCNs to aliases registered to a plurality of process automation nodes made accessible by the plurality of DCNs, wherein the plurality of process automation nodes include input/output (I/O) channels and function blocks that execute on the plurality of DCNs;
cause a graphical user interface (GUI) to be rendered, wherein the GUI includes a plurality of graphical elements that visualize at least some of the plurality of DCNs and at least some of the subscriptions;
compare the alias subscription data to alias registration data to detect one or more irregularities in how the aliases are registered to the plurality of process automation nodes, wherein the alias registration data includes mappings between connection strings of the plurality of I/O channels and the aliases registered to the plurality of process automation nodes; and
based on the one or more detected irregularities, cause the GUI to be updated to visually emphasize one or more of the graphical elements of the GUI that correspond to one or more detected irregularities.
19 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the one or more detected irregularities include the same alias being assigned to two different process automation nodes.
20 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the one or more detected irregularities include a DCN being subscribed to an orphan alias that is assigned to a process automation node that is unavailable.